Research and education powered by the wind
Halmstad University has been conducting education and research on wind power for more than 25 years. Göran Sidén, former Senior Lecturer in Energy Engineering, started one of the very first courses in wind power technology in Sweden in 1994. Today the University is well established within the area.
“Our research indicates that vertical axis wind turbines likely are quieter than the common horizontal axis turbines.”
Fredric Ottermo, Senior Lecturer in Energy Engineering
Wind power research at Halmstad University is centred on sound generation from vertical axis wind turbines and wind turbine electrical systems. The latter is a cooperation between Uppsala University and KTH Royal Institute of Technology.
“The project is focused on measuring the forces on the guy wires of a vertical axis wind turbine. Experiments are conducted on a wind turbine situated in Falkenberg, operated by Halmstad University and Uppsala University”, says Jonny Hylander, Professor of Energy Engineering.
Vertical axis wind turbines have lower noise levels
A vertical axis wind turbine.
A vertical axis wind turbine is different from traditional wind turbines both in appearance and in function due to its vertical axis of rotation.
“Our research indicates that vertical axis wind turbines likely are quieter than the common horizontal axis turbines”, says Fredric Ottermo, Senior Lecturer in Energy Engineering, and continues:
“Limiting the noise levels from wind turbines is important, since it enables building wind turbines closer to urban areas. This is a necessity when establishing wind power in countries with limited available land mass, for instance the Netherlands.”
System analysis and cooperation in focus for future research
Fredric Ottermo and colleague Senior Lecturer in Energy Engineering, Erik Möllerström, see many potential future research areas, such as system analysis of wind power as a part of the electricity- and heating system. Studies of this kind could be performed in cooperation with Halmstad University’s renown district heating research group.
In another potential research project, Erik Möllerström aims to evaluate the wind-siting tool used for wind turbine planning, especially when used in the more complex forestall regions.
Pioneer Göran Sidén is also engaged in other interesting projects. He recently published the book Small Scale Renewable Energy Systems – Independent Electricity for Community, Business and Home with co-author Sven Rubin. The book introduces different kinds of renewable energy and system analysis and is meant to be used as course literature on a university level.
“We hope the book will contribute to further placing Halmstad University’s energy research on the map” Göran Sidén says.
Text: Christa Amnell
Photo: Erik Möllerström and Jonny Hylander
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Read the article in Swedish: Med vinden som drivkraft
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